Apparatus for inserting pipe-cleaning devices into pipe-lines.



B. B. HODGMAN a C. INGLEB. APPARATUS PoE INSEETING PIPE CLEANING DEVICES INT0 PIPE LINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1a, 1911. 1,089,641.

Patented Mar. 10,v1914 COLUMBIA PLANUURAPH C0..WA5HINOTON, D. C.

i face of the ground, the pipe A being located UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURT IB. HODG-IVIAN, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, AND CLINTON INGLEE, F AMITYVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NORS TO NATIONAL WATER MAIN CLEANING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

APPARATUS FOR INSERTING PIPE-CLEAN IN G DEVICES INTO PIPE-LINES.

vSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 18, 1911. Serial No. 649,853.

G through the guide fitting J over one of the sheaves or rollers L mounted on the shaft M, held in place by the lugs K of the guide fitting J. After passing around one of the sheaves or rollers L the cable H passes around the pulley I at the end of the cleaning device back around another pulley L mounted on the shaft M, although this could be dispensed with if desired, and then up to and is fixed on the hook O mounted on the side of the winch E. The guiding fitting J consists of a hollow plug having screw threads N on the outer surface adapted t0 engage with screw threads in the pipe A. The lower part of the fitting is slotted so e as to provide a passage for the cable.

To all fr0/0m t may concern Be it known that we, BURT B. HODGMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, New Jersey, and CLINTON INGLEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Amityville, Long Island, New York, have invented certain new Vand useful Improvements in Apparatus for Inserting Pipe-Cleaning Devices into Pipe-Lines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the art of cleaning pipe mains and is particularly addressed to apparatus for the purpose of inserting into water mains what are known as selfpropelled cleaning machines. It, however, may also be used in connection with cable drawn cleaning machines.

The machines which the apparatus is particularly useful in connection with are machines having cleaning members so arranged that when in their normal position the diameter of the machine is greater than the diameter of the pipe which it is desired to clean, but which cleaning members are capable of being forced inward so that the greatest diameter of the machine is equal to the inner diameter of the pipe line to be cleaned.

In the drawings forming part of the speciiication-Figure l represents our improved apparatus and method of inserting cleaning devices into a pipe line to be cleaned. Fig. 2 is a view of the cable guiding tting which we prefer to use. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of same. Fig. l is a packing cap for use in connection with the fitting shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the drawings A is the pipe to be cleaned, showing the incrustations on the inner face which it is desired to remove.

B, B are cleaning members mounted upon a iieXible shaft D which are adapted to be propelled through the pipe by means of the piston C, C. It will be noted that the cleaning blades on the cleaning members B, B, as attached to the winch at the point O in Fig. shown, are of a diameter greater than the l l is passed through screw fitting J, out inner diameter of the pipe A. l through the end of the pipe A, around the E is a winch which is mounted on the surl pulley I, back through the fitting J, and is i attached to the winch at the point O, or if it is desired to the hook P. The passing of the cable through the fitting and the pipe and back again is done by the use of a wire to. which the cable may be attached, or by Mounted in the sides K of the fitting is a shaft M upon which are loosely mounted the sheaves or rollers L. p

At times it may be desirable to have the cable H pass through packing in the fitting J so as to prevent the escape of liquid from the pipe line. For this purpose we have provided for the fitting J a packing cap shown in Fig. 4,'in which R is a screw thread adapted to engage with the screw thread S on the inner bore of the fitting J.

Q is the head of the cap and is so constructed that it may be easily rotated by means of a wrench or otherwise. This packing cap is provided with an opening T sutliciently large to allow the cable to pass through, and is also provided with suitable packing a. We have shown the lower part of the fitting cap broken away so as to show the packing material. Ihen this cap is used it may be found desirable to attach the free end of the cable, that is, the end that does not pass over the winch, within the fitting J, and for this purpose we have provided a hook P. Of course, this hook may be used in place of the hook O on the winch E.

The method of operating our invention is as follows: The end of the cable which is some distance below the surface. The winch E is provided with a sheave G adapted to be rotated by means of the crank F.

H is a cable which runs from the sheave Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

` our device it is simple, easy and any other suitable means. The cleaning device is placed at one end of the pipe in which it is to be inserted and in order to permit this insertion the neXt adjacent section of pipe line is removed until after the cleaning device has been inserted when it is replaced. Sheave G is then rotated by the crank F which draws, through the medium of the cable H, the cleaning device B, B and its piston C into the pipe line. After the cleaning device has been drawn into the pipe line the desired distance, H fastened to the winch E at the point O or fastened on the hook P within the fitting J is released and the rotation of the sheave G continued. This draws the loose end of the cable H through the fitting J, out over the pulley I, and back through the fitting J, thus releasing the cleaning device from engagement with the cable. The screw fitting J is then removed, a plug placed in the opening, and the flow of water turned on so as to force the cleaning device B forward and clean t-he incrustations from the inner surface of the pipe A.

It will be readily seen that by the use of econo-mical to draw the pipe cleaning devices into the pipe line. In this art it has heretofo-re been necessary to force self propelled cleaning machines into the pipe line from the rear. This has been found to have many disadvantages, it being found very difficult when a ointed pipe cleaning device, such as that shown in which it will be noted that the shaft D between the two cleaning members B is jointed, was used to force it into the pipe line evenly, and without in any way damaging the cleaning blades or cleaning` members. By means of our invention the device is drawn forward and it is easy to the end of the cable disengage the cable from the machine after the machine has been drawn into the desired position in which it is ready for use.

Any one skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from our invention.

that we claim is as follows:

1. In apparatus for inserting pipe cleaning devices into a pipe line, the combination of a pipe, an opening in said pipe, a fitting adapted to fill said opening, a pulley carried by said fitting, a cable passing through said ik fitting around said pulley and engaging with said cleaning device, all so arranged that said cleaning device may be drawn into the pipe line through the medium of said cable.

2. In apparatus for inserting pipe cleaning devices into a pipe line. the combination of a pipe, an opening in said pipe, a fitting adapted to fill said opening, said fitting having arms supporting a shaft, a pulley mounted on said shaft, a cable passing through said fitting and engaging with said pulley, said cable engaging with the device to be inserted into the pipe, all so arranged that said device may be drawn into the pipe line through the medium of said cable.

3. In a pipe section, an opening in the circumference thereof a fitting adapted to ll said opening, ashe-ave carried by said fitting, said sheave being of less diameter than the said opening.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BURT B. HODGMAN. CLINTON INGLEE. Vitnesses z EDWIN SEGER,

GEO. YV. MILLS, Jr.

Copies of thi patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti.

Washington, D. C. 

